Device eor starting bailroad-caks



V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'. D. CUMMINGS.

CarStarter.

Patented Apr. 26, 1859.

NPETERB, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPMER. WABNINOYTON D. C

. 2 Sheets-Shet 2. D. CUMMINGS.

Car Starter. v

No. 23,757. Patented Apr. 26.. 1859.

, N. PETERB, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. Dv C.

UNITED PATENT @FFIQE.

DAVID OUMMING, OF SORREL HORSE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR STARTING RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,757, dated April 26, 1859.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID GUMMING, of Sorrel Horse, county ofMontgomery, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Devices for Starting Cars; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

My invention relates more particularly to city cars and consists in animproved device for starting the car as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation refering by lettersto the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and inwhich Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a car truck embracing myimprovement, Fig. 2, represents a top View of the same and Fig. 3,represents a vertical longitudinal section through the center of thesame.

Similar letters denoting the same parts in the different views.

A, represents the frame of the truck B, B, the four wheels and C, Gtheir axles.

D, D are the ratchet wheels which are made in sections and bolted intothe sides of the truck wheels.

E, E, are the ratchet bars which are arranged in two sets, one at eachend of the truck and are pivoted at one end to the cross beam orcarriage F, by means of a pin or stud, a, said carriage or traversingbeam F, is constructed and arranged in the truck as that it may slide ingrooves, 72, toward and away from the Wheels, (as will be presentlyexplained). The ratchet bars, E, are braced together by a suitable rod,0, and are of such length that when the carriage or sliding beam F,shall have come into'contact with the end of truck frame they shall havepassed a little beyond the ratchet wheels so as not to be struck orrubbed against by said wheels during the continuance of their rotationand said ratchet bars it will be observed are rendered capable, by beingpivoted to the beam F, to accommodate themselves to any irregularity inthe periphery of the ratchet wheels, or in themselves.

03, is a coupling link which is swiveled at one end to the eye, 6, inbeam, F, and has in its other end a slot, 9, through which passes,

into the end of the truck a coupling pin, h.

Gr, G are four bars two at each end of the truck, which are fastened tothe traversing beams F- and passing through the end pieces of the frameA, form a frame to which the tongue, H, may be coupled in any desirablemanner.

In the drawing I have represented the mechanism at each end of the truckin a different position, in which positions they would appear when beingin use: one set of ratchet bars with its frame &c., being locked to thetrucks and out of gear while the other is at work.

. The operation is as follows. Suppose the ratchet bars in position asseen at E, and the team attached to the tongue H, then on starting theteam the bars G, and beam F, will slide along in their bearings towardthe end of the frame, A, carrying with them the ratchet bars, E, andsaid bars gearing .into the ratchet wheels D, cause them to rotate andcarry the car along, after the bars E, have traveled out the length oftheir ratchets; they slide past, or out of gear with their ratchetwheels and the beam, F, comes against the inner side of the end piece ofthe frame, A, and the team then pulls directly upon the truck; the greatadvantage of starting the car or overcoming its inertia is obvious forsince the power passes through a greater distance in the same time thanthe resistance, it follows that a leverage is obtained which is inproportion to the size of the ratchet wheels.

The advantages of my improvement are the ratchetbars operating always ina horizontal tangent to the top of the ratchet wheel the greatestpossible amount of leverage is obtained and the ratchet wheels beingmade in sections can be readily applied to old wheels which may be fastin the axles while the construction is simple and durable.

I do not claim the use of ratchet wheels or pawls, but

Having described the construction of my improved device what I claimthen as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In combination with the ratchet wheels D, the ratchet bars E arrangedand operating as described for the purpose set forth.

2. S0 arranging the ratchet bars E with the sliding frame to which thepower is applied at that said bars will be capable of slight play up anddown when in clutch with their wheels and will run entirly out ofcontact with said wheels without the aid of other mechanism, ashereinbefore described for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal thisthirty-first day of De cember 1858.

DAVID CUMMING. Witnesses:

J OHN SMITH, ISSACI-IAR M. RHOADS'.

